Business Whirl

Posted: Sunday, January 28, 2001

Athens businessman Henry Walczyk, the president of American Textile Company Inc. recently returned from Poland where he received the Golden Cross of Achievements. Poland President Alexander Kwasniewski presented Walczyk with the award, the same honor once bestowed on Leck Walesa.

The ceremony took place in Lodz, the center of the textile industry in Poland. Walczyk was honored for his help in introducing the used machinery market in Poland, for the technology transfer and marketing systems especially in the textile industry and for contracts he provided to Polish companies so their technicians and engineers could traveled the world learning and teaching others.

Mason named Stonegate president

The Athens area office of Stonegate Mortgage has promoted Michelle Mason to president, according to Gerry Burdette, owner of Stonegate Mortgage.

Mason has been with Stonegate for five years and formerly served as senior loan officer, where she earned top producer honors the past three years. She is a graduate of Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs.

Burdette said Mason as president will continue to work as a loan officer, but her responsibilities will include leading the company ''with new technologies into the new millennium.''

Curry to direct pressphotographers group

The members of the National Press Photographers Association recently elected John Curry, director of photography for the Athens Daily News and Banner-Herald, as director for Region No. 6 in the association.

Curry will oversee the regional membership covering the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The Region 6 membership includes 1,664 photojournalists. Among Curry's responsibilities as regional director are serving on the national board of directors that oversees a $1.6 million budget. He will also supervise affairs of the region, serve as publisher of the regional publication and appoint committees.

He has been director of photography with the Daily News/Banner-Herald for more than three years. Previously he worked with the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.